In his post election address, the newly-elected Somali Football Federation President Mr. Abdi Qani Said Arab displayed a complete strategic plan for football development in the country with women's football and beach soccer creation to be one of the main priories as shown in the new work plans.

The new president started his address with words full of thanks and praises suggested to the congress members for electing him the president of SFF for the period 2014-2018.

He praised the former president Ali Said Guled Roble for good and professional leadership that lead the Somali Football Federation to achieve tangible development goals.

"The former president’s democratic acceptance of the election outcome was very encouraging experience and as shown in the SFF constitution he is our honorary president and we will carefully listen to his consultations and constructive suggestions and ideas” the new SFF president Abdi Qani Said Arab told in his post election address.

The president pledged that he will serve for the country in accordance with the SFF constitution and as well as the international football principles.

Development programs

In his strategic plans, President Abdi Qani Said Arab explained that nationwide football development programs will be carried out for the next four years. Some of the most prioritised sides of the development programs include:

·Educational enhancement programs including.

·Capacity building workshops for club managers, regional sporting leaders

·The implementation of beach soccer in the country for the first time.

·The creation of women’s football in Somalia

·The increase of local league participation.

·The inauguration of regional leagues in a zonal system

·The strengthening of the already existed co-operations with the government.

The New President also said that he will consolidate the international relationships in particularly the relations with FIFA, CAF and CECAFA.

"Dear Stakeholders and honorable guests, I can’t conclude my speech without thanking FIFA for helping Somali Football reach such stage where we have been able to do democratic elections in our country in this chaotic country---FIFA under the leadership of President Joseph. S Blatter had done whatever they could to protect Somali football from collapse during the difficult years we experienced” President Abdi Qani Said Arab noted.

Mr. Arab, a member of FIFA beach soccer committee and a long-serving CECAFA executive is respected here in the country as one of the volunteers who helped the revival of Somali Football in the aftermath of the collapse of Somalia in 1991.

Somali Football Federation Media Department

Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com